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Monday, September 08, 2014

Luxury Retreat Portfolio in Thailand

Opening in 2018, W Retreat Phuket – Phang
Nga Bay will be Thailand’s second W Retreat and third W Hotel in the country

W
Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:
HOT), announced that its W Hotels brand will debut its third hotel in Thailand
with W Retreat Phuket - Phang Nga Bay, September 5, 2014. Scheduled to open in
January 2018, the W Retreat is owned by Dr. Wutthisak Limphanit, Thailand’s
renowned medical doctor and skincare entrepreneur.

“We
are very excited to bring the iconic W brand to Phang Nga Bay in Southern
Thailand as we continue to grow our resorts portfolio in the country,” said
Stephen Ho, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. “As proven
by the success of W Bangkok and W Retreat Koh Samui, W Retreat Phuket - Phang
Nga Bay will further leverage Thailand’s exemplary service in hospitality with
the W brand’s cutting-edge design and whatever/whenever philosophy to provide a
new style of modern luxury in the local hotel scene.”

With
the surge of luxury travelers throughout the region, Asia Pacific is home to
three W Retreat properties, including W Retreat & Spa Maldives; W Retreat
Koh Samui; and W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak. In addition to W Retreat
Phuket in the pipeline, W Retreat & Spa Goa is on track to open in 2015.

Redefining
luxury with its innovative design, signature amenities and unique style, W
Retreat Phuket will be located on Koh Yao Noi, one of the largest islands in
the Phang Nga Bay archipelago between the eastern coast of Phuket and western
coast of Krabi on the mainland. The W Retreat will provide an integrated
lifestyle experience with 79 standalone villas, starting from 155 square meters
in space. All villas will feature private outdoor areas and plunge pools as
well as superlative views of the limestone cliffs that dot Phang Nga Bay.

W
Retreat Phuket - Phang Nga Bay will also offer a lobby lounge, an all-day
dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant and bar. It will feature 120
square metres of modern meeting and event space; FIT, a well-equipped workout
facility and swimming pool; and a contemporary spa with six treatment rooms.
The W Retreat will be accessible from both Phuket International Airport (HKT)
and Krabi Airport (KBV), with a fleet of high speed sea vessels, a private
jetty and helicopter landing pad for ease of guests transfers.

Guests
will be treated to the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service
philosophy, providing whatever they want, whenever they want it. W Retreat
Phuket will also offer leisure activities amidst natural splendor. Koh Yao
Noi’s eastern coast contains beaches suitable for swimming and snorkeling,
while the west is a picturesque blend of rice fields.

“We
are very pleased to be partnering with Starwood Hotels & Resorts,” said
Ashwani Ahuja, Deputy Managing Director, Investment Banking, Country Group
Securities Plc., - Financial Advisor and Owner Representative. “We are
confident that W Hotels, with its exceptional concept, will further enhance Koh
Yao Noi’s exclusive setting, creating a compelling world class resort
destination for sophisticated and intrepid travelers.”

Singapore-based
Ministry of Design (MOD) has been appointed as the architect and interior
designer for the hotel. With an expansive international project portfolio, MOD
continues to garner international accolades for its design directions. Recent
awards include Best Luxury Hotel from Gold Key Awards, New York, 2013, Designer
of the Year from the International Design Awards, USA, and Top 10 Asia Pacific
Designers from the IAI Design Awards, Shanghai.

With
W Retreat Phuket - Phang Nga Bay in the pipeline, Starwood Hotels will further
expand its presence in Thailand, where the company currently operates 23
properties under eight of its nine distinct brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury
Collection®, W Hotels®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Aloft®, ElementSM and
Four Points® by Sheraton. This October 2014, Starwood will add another Le
Méridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa to its growing portfolio,
and upon opening, W Retreat Phuket - Phang Nga Bay will be the latest addition
to Starwood’s three properties in Phuket, including Le Méridien Phuket Beach
Resort, The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa and The Naka Island, a Luxury
Collection Resort and Spa, Phuket.